The Houston Astros are good. There, we said it. We all know it to be true, and Vegas odds agree — the Astros are the betting favorites to win the World Series. They added Zack Greinke to a rotation that already includes Justin Verlander and Gerrit Cole, they have a lockdown bullpen and veteran leadership and …
Oh, that lineup. Don’t forget about the lineup. The group that includes Jose Altuve, George Springer, Carlos Correa, Alex Bregman and more flexed its muscles like never before Saturday night in a 23-2 victory over the Baltimore Orioles.
Astros destroy Orioles with 23 runs to set franchise record https://t.co/vzO3NgKydx
— Houston Chronicle (@HoustonChron) August 11, 2019
More big bats
If the list of sluggers above wasn’t enough, consider that Yuli Gurriel also has been one of the hottest hitters in baseball over the past month.
And if that isn’t enough, meet Yordan Alvarez. The rookie outfielder has set a torrid pace since his call-up in June, hitting .353 with 17 home runs and 51 RBIs.
He’s been even hotter of late. His average in August is over .400, and on Saturday, he mashed three home runs with seven RBIs to lead the onslaught against the Orioles.
Just what the rest of the American League wanted to hear: The Astros found themselves another great slugger.
(He also joined the Reds’ Aristides Aquino as the first pair of rookies to hit three home runs on the same day.)
Yordan Álvarez and Aristides Aquino are the first pair of rookies in MLB history to hit 3 HRs on the same day.
Both players wear No. 44 🤯 (h/t @EliasSports) #SCFacts pic.twitter.com/NYSLAGpVRg
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) August 11, 2019
Everybody contributes
As you might have guessed, Alvarez was far from the only contributor Saturday night. Gurriel went 4-for-6 with three runs. Altuve and Correa both went 3 for 6 with a home run.
Bregman went 3-for-3 with a home run and two doubles — and he only played the first five innings. Then Aledmys Diaz came in and HE went 3-for-3.
All told, Houston had 25 hits and two walks. The Orioles only struck out four batters. And the Astros machine rolls on.
Hi, we are the #Astros and we hit dingers. pic.twitter.com/fEvv8TGAWc
— Houston Astros (@astros) August 11, 2019
